Penn Farm Agricultural History Center at Cedar Hill State Park pays tribute to the disappearing Texas' family farm and affords a glimpse into agrarian history as farm machinery took the place of the horse and mule almost a century ago. The evolution of the farm from its beginning in 1859 to the mid 1900’s is easy to follow as you wander from the oldest buildings to the more modern structures. Advances in building materials and tools are obvious as you compare the rough-hewn, handcrafted structure of the original barn and house to the almost manufactured quality of the newer structures.
The exhibit hopes to draw attention to the effect that the Texas pioneers had on the shaping and even destruction of the vast Texas prairies. No doubt the grasslands were marked by the arrival of the farmers, as they cleared the land for their structures and created pastures for their animals.
But, as a current Texas resident, I can’t help but wonder at how the land shaped the pioneers. How did they survive the harsh, humid summers and the drought that comes along with the summer months? How did they combat the dangers of the creatures on the prairie, from the dangerous packs of coyotes to the poisonous snakes and spiders to the menacing mosquitoes? Was the hard-packed and unyielding earth that shaped the will of the first Texans or did they arrive on this soil with a will already hardened for the work ahead?
Whatever the answers to these questions, it was lovely way to spend an afternoon, thinking about the ones that came before me to shape the land that I now call home.
Know before you go:
- The walk around the farm takes about 1 hour. There are no restrooms or other facilities available, so be prepared before you go.
- Bring along your own water, although you will find that Park Rangers have placed coolers of water along the trail for your use.
- Stay along the marked trails.
- Enter buildings cautiously. We encountered a large number of wasps in the barns and one very angry mother vulture who created quite a hissing display to keep us away from her nest.
- Self-guided tours are available 7 days a week.
~This post is a part of Travel Photo Thursday at Budget Travelers Sandbox and Photo Friday at Delicious Baby~
What a wonderful place to visit with the kids. It's so full of history and one that evokes a lot of questions. Love the first picture with the blue bonnets. So glad to be learning a whole lot about Texas between you and Becca. =)
Could be a very interesting walk.
Glad to see they set aside part of the park for this. What part of the state is this?
This looks really interesting. Even though it was wasn't that long ago relatively speaking, it's amazing what we take for granted and how difficult life would have been for the pioneers.
Nice bit of Americana here 🙂
Looks like a neat visit! No kidding about wondering how they dealt with the elements. Summers here in Texas are so hot (and humid down south).
I love taking my kids place like this so they can see a bit what it was like to live without all the modern conveniences that they take for granted. Great learning experience! Your first shot with the flowers is beautiful!
Reminds me of a similar place at Kelowna, British Columbia.
Looking at your photos makes me feel like time has stood still. What a nice outing to do with kids.
Interesting photos and perspectives. I like visiting places like this that get you thinking about our country's past — especially those brave and hearty pioneers.
There are some old gold mining towns near here that I haven't taken my older son to but should. Places like this old farm are so great for children to explore and think about the past.